While an annual digital mammogram and clinical exam are enough for most women, some require increased surveillance and follow-up care. The Ourisman Breast Health Center has a high-risk clinic—staffed by dedicated medical oncologists and knowledgeable nurse practitioners who specialize in breast health—designed expressly for women with:
- A family history of breast cancer
- Knowledge or suspicion that they carry the breast cancer mutation genes, BRCA-1 or BRCA-2
- A previous normal or abnormal biopsy to rule out cancer
- Questions about their breast self-exam
New advances in the management of women at high-risk for breast cancer
At one time, the only thing our breast care experts could offer a high-risk woman was increased attention so that cancer could be detected as early as possible. Thanks to recent research—some of it conducted at MedStar Georgetown’s own Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center—powerful new drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene can be used to reduce the risk of future breast cancer in highly susceptible women. Learn more about Craig Jordan, father of tamoxifen.
Our breast care experts diagnose and manage high-risk men and women who have:
